Video gate

ABSTRACT

A video gate generator for excluding the sensing of any target other than a target inside the gate generated by digitally sampling a portion of a television raster and producing an output gate comprising left and right boundaries and upper and lower boundaries for superposition on a TV monitor.

United States Patent 51 Oct. 24, 1972 [52] US. Cl. ..178/6, 178/DIG. 21 [51] Int. Cl. ..H04n 7/02 [58] Field of Search ..178/6, DIG. 21

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,518,318 6/1970 Olson ..178/DIG. 21 3,448,271 6/1969 Aldrich et a1. 178/DIG. 21 3,320,360 5/1967 Thompson ..178/DIG. 21 3,257,505 6/ 1966 Vanwechel ..178/D1G. 21 2,774,964 12/ 1956 Baker et a1 ..178/DIG. 21

C TV CAMERA OTHER PUBLICATIONS Digitnized Optical Radar Collimation System Theory of Oper. Circuit Descrip, Oper. & Maintenance Director. R. J. Stedman NWC Chival Lake, Cal. December 1968.

Closed Circuit TV Tracking Error Detector R. J. Stedman Naval Weap Center Chival Lake, Cal. January 1969.

Primary Examiner-Richard Murray Assistant Examiner-Barry L. Leibowitz Attorney-R. S. Sciascia and Roy Miller [57] ABSTRACT A video gate generator for excluding the sensing of any target other than a target inside the gate generated by digitally sampling a portion of a television raster and producing an output gate comprising left and right boundaries and upper and lower boundaries for superposition on a TVmonitor.

6 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures TARGET INDICATOR TRACKING MOUNT SERVO AND SYSTEM OPERATOR LENS ENCODERS A2 2: EL

SE RVO ERROR SIGNAL FOOT TRANSFER CONTROL AZ 8 EL ENCODER DIGITAL POSITION INFORMATION SERVO ANALOG ERROR OUTPUT CAMERA CONTROL UNIT DEO No.1 1

/ SING HORIZ DRIVE VERT DRIVE\ EQUALIZER AUTOMATIC TRANSFER LOGIC DRAWER AZ 8 EL DIGITAL ERROR com-Roi.

RANGE TIMING SYNC RECORDER JOY ICK 7 CONTROL ONTROL umr VIDEO no. 2

TV uomron PATENTEDUBI 24 I972 SHEET UlUF 10 TARGET INDICATOR l TV CAMERA OPERATOR LENS TRACKING MOUNT SYSTEM l SERVO AND ENCODERS CAMERA CONTROL UNIT A2 a EL FOOT 2:21;: gags E VIDEO No.1 SIGNAL /SYNC HORIZ DRIVE A2 a EL ENCODER VERT D VE DIGITAL POSITION INFORMATION SERVO ANALOG ERRoR OUTPUT EQUAL|ZER LOGIC DRAWER AUTOMATIC TRANSFER CONTROL A2 a EL DIGITAL ERROR RANGE TIMING SYNC RECORDER JOY CONTROL CONTROL UN VIDEO no. 2 TV MONlTOR INVENTOR.

ROBERT J. STEDMAN ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

PATENIEDUBI 24 m2 sum 03 0F 10 HIIII an: on 1 I I oumzwz; oumiwwd. l T

PATENTEUIIII 24 I972 SHEET GU 0F 10 FIG TFF HORIZONTAL COUNTER gZL C -c- HORIZONTAL COUNTER cONTROI. GATES a2 l9 'HOPO FLIP-FLOP cROA I V I I HORIZONTAL Mi l 2 5ml HORIZONTAL MEMORY 0- b b D JIO3 TO HORIZONTAL JOY STICK POTENTIOMETER HORIZONTAL DIGITAL HORIZONTAL OIGITAL OVERRIDE SWITCH TO ON JOY STICK ANALOG ANALOG CONVERTER REGULATOR AuTO.

O--O TRACK EZL J TO HORIZONTAL TRANSFER AMPLIFIER SCHMITT TRIGGER RELAY No.1

FROM HORIZONTAL JOY JOY STICK AMPLIFIER STICK POTENTIONETER PATENTEDncI 24 m2 SHEET USUF 10 r QLP m wah muuP wowk (awn-fr VIDEO GATE GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The video gate generator is intended for use with a tracking error detector which is an edgetracker that derives analog error voltages from digital target position offset information obtained from a closed circuit TV camera system. The tracking error detector was initially developed to provide digital tracking error data which, combined with digital data from position encoders in a high performance tracking mount, gives the true direction of a target. Ultimately the tracking error detector was used as a real time automatic tracking system. That is, the digital signals, converted to analog form to position the video gate, were also used to control the mount for automatic tracking.

PRIOR ART Prior art devices have been developed to provide what might be referred to as tracking gates, such as those disclosed in US. Pat. Nos. 2,774,964 and 3,257,506. US. Pat. No. 2,774,964 discloses an automatic radar target tracking system in which received PPI radar video signals containing target information in polar coordinates are converted into television video signals representing information in rectangular coordinates by means of a suitable signal converter storage tube. Auxiliary circuitry actuated by television system horizontal and vertical drive signals generates a small target tracking area which is also displayed on the television monitor. The tracking area is manually positioned such that a selected target can be tracked is centered therein. As the target moves, appropriate video signals are coupled to the video amplifier, the output of which produces suitable wave signals, to cause the tracking area to automatically track the selected target.

The generated target area appears on the television 5 monitor as an intensification of its scanning beam while the selected target center appears as a further beam modulation.

US. Pat. No. 3,257,506 discloses a system for increasing the contrast or varying the detailed contrast of respond to a predetermined portion of the picture to pass. In effect, the apparatus generates a gate from which the control voltage is derived and the detailed contrast correspondingly improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the target error detector; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vertical counter and memory;

FIG. 3 illustrates vertical counter wave-forms; 6 5

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the horizontal counter and memory; 1

FIG. 5 illustrates horizontal counter wave-forms;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the internal sync counter; I

FIG. 7 is a logic diagram of the gate generator and video processing amplifier;

FIG. 8 illustrates video gate wave-forms;

FIG. 9 is a logic diagram of the video modulator; and

FIG. 10 illustrates video modulator wave-forms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating (in block diagram form) the tracking area detector installed and connected for operation. The TV camera sees the target through the lens and the resulting image is transmitted as a video signal to the camera control unit. The video No. 1 output of the camera control unit drives the video processing circuits in the logic drawer. The video gate from the video gate forming-and-positioning circuits in the logic drawer is inserted into video No. 2 and the gated video output is fed to the TV monitor. Video No. 2 is isolated from the video processing functions in the logic drawer to prevent sensing the inserted video gate as a target. The horizontal and vertical drive pulses are brought from the TV camera control unit into the logic circuitry to synchronize camera and tracking error detector sweeps.

The logic circuitry performs the following functions: (1) generation of a video gate which can be positioned for target acquisition and automatic tracking; (2) generation of digital data describing target position and analog drive signals for gate positioning and servo mount control; and (3) processing of the video signal for target recognition.

The digital output data are fed to the recorder control and the analog output is fed to the tracking mount servo system.

TARGET ACQUISITION When the tracking error detector is to be used with a tracking mount to acquire a target for automatic tracking the following steps are performed:

1. boresight the sighting optics and the tracking error detector lens;

2. set the tracking error detector video gate for maximum size and with the joy stick, position the video gate about the center of the optical system;

3. set the tracking switch on the joy stick control unit to automatic;

4. set the contrast switch on the joy stick control unit for positive or negative use as desired; and

5. adjust the video control until no random target pulses appear inside the video gate.

The system is now ready to acquire a target. Using the mount tracking controls the desired target is positioned at the center of the sighting optics. At this time,

the target should appear inside the videogate. With sufficient contrast a light will turn on in the operators sighting optics, indicating a target. A switch is activated which then transfers to automatic tracking. In automatic tracking, the control of the video gate is transferred from the tracking error joy stick to the tracking error analog output, thereby allowing the video gate to be centered about the target automatically.

VERTICAL ERROR DETECTOR The vertical error counter (FIGS. 2 and 3) counts the digital location of the target inside the video gate by counting the horizontal TV lines. The count from the first line, after vertical blanking to the TV line on which a target is detected, provides the vertical location of the target. Inputs into the vertical error detector in memory are:

a. target flip-flop TT FIG. 7;

b. horizontal drive pulse delay HDPD, FIG. 6;

c. target delay multivibrator TDMV, FIG. 7;

d. counter reset drive amplifier CRDA, FIG. 6;

e. vertical shift. VS, FIG. 6;

f. vertical joy stick VJS, FIG. 1; and

g. vertical bias supply from VBS, not shown. litially, the vertical counter, VCl through VC9, and TFF are reset at the trailing edge of the vertical blanking pulse from the counter reset drive amplifier CRDA. Inputs to vertical counter NAND gate 1 (VCGl), T FF TDMV, and V C1 are at logic 1, providing a set enable input to VCl. Vertical counter VCl is triggered reset by l-IDPD and all inputs to VCG2 are at logic 1, providing a reset enable to VCl which is triggered reset by the next HDPD pulse. In this manner, the binary counter, VCl through VC9, accumulates I-IDPD pulses until TDMV (targe delay multivibrator) is triggered set with the detection of a target inside the video gate. When the target delay multivibrator is triggered set, TDMV goes to a logic zero and the set and reset enable inputs to VCl are at a logic 1, holding VCl disabled, thus terminating the count. Target flip-flop, TFF, is triggered set at the termination of TDMV delay time and TW goes to a logic zero, holding the vertical counter disabled until TFF is reset by CRDA at the end of vertical blanking. W going to logic zero also sets the shift fliptlop, SFF. Reset of SFF by the termination of HDPD applies a vertical shift, VS, pulse to the vertical memory, VMl VM9, shifting the counter data into the relective memory stages.

The maximum number of horizontal drive pulse delay pulses the vertical counter can accumulate is determined by the equation:

Maximum vertical count T 16.666 msec.1.116 msec.

35.2 #560. :441 where: a.

16.666 milliseconds =total vertical sweep time; 1.1 16 milliseconds vertical blanking time;

35.2 microseconds horizontal sweep time.

The vertical digital-to-analog converter, VDAC, is driven by the negation outputs of the vertical memory. The analog reference voltage for the vertical digital-toanalog converter (VDAC) is furnished by the vertical digital-to-analog regulator, VDAR. Bias voltage is furnished by the vertical bias supply, VBS (not shown). VBS and H88 comprise a conventional power supply.

The analog output range of the vertical digital-toanalog converter (VDAC) for a full-register count of 5111 is -8 volts. Since the maximum output of the counter is 441, the maximum output voltage of the vertical digital-to-analog converter is determined from the equation:

E Maximum= (8 v/51 1) X 441 6.90 v

where:

(-8 v/5 1 1 voltage weight per count; and

41 1 maximum vertical count.

The vertical digital-to-analog converter output range is O to -6.90 volts, decreasing from O to 6.90 volts for an increasing count.

The output range of the vertical joy stick (VJS), used for target acquisition, is the same as that of the vertical digital-to-analog converter (VDAC). The vertical bias voltage sets a positive bias level at the positive input to the vertical control amplifier, VGA, to obtain a bipolar output voltage. The vertical control amplifier is operated non-inverting with an output range of :8 volts, which is used to position the video gate.

HORIZONTAL ERROR DETECTOR The operation of the horizontal error counter and memory, FIGS. 4 and 5, is similar to that of the vertical error counter memory. The horizontal counter is clocked by the horizontal clock crystal oscillator at 14.515 MHz; counting is initiated in the horizontal counter by set of the target flip-flop (TFF) and continues to the end of the TV line. Inputs to the horizontal error detector and mgigry are:

a. Target flip-flop, TFF, FIG. 7;

b. Horizontal drive pulse delay, HDPD, FIG. 6;

c. Horizontal shift, HS, FIG. 6;

(1. Counter reset driver amplifier, CRDA, FIG. 6;

e. Horizontal joy stick, I-IJS, not shown; and

f. Horizontal bias supply, I-IBS, not shown.

Initially, the horizontal counter stages I-ICI through HC9 are in a reset state. When W goes to logic zero with the detection of a target pulse, the horizontal counter control flip-flop, I-ICCFF, is set. Both inputs to horizontal counter gate 1, HCGI, are at logic 1, producing a set enable, logic zero, to HCl. Horizontal counter HCl is triggered set with the first clock pulse after TFF is set. With HCl set, both inputs to HCG2 are at logic 1, producing a reset enable, logic zero, to HCl which will be reset by the next clock pulse. The binary counter then continues to count clock pulses until disabled by HCCFF at the end of the TV line on which it was initiated. The logic zero from l-ICCFF disables HCGl and l-ICG2, inhibiting H01 and terminating the count. At the termination of HDPD, the shift flip-flop, SFF, goes to logic 0, which is applied to the trigger input of the horizontal memory via the horizontal shift, HS, pulse. The data accumulated by the horizontal counter areshifted into the respective memory stages HMl through HM9. The horizontal counter stages (HCl HC9) are reset at the termination of VDPD.

The operation of the horizontal digital-to-analog converter, I-IDAC, horizontal digital-to-analog converter regulator, HDAR, horizontal joy stick H18 and horizontal control amplifier, HCA, differs from that of the vertical section only in output range and polarity. The horizontal digital-to-analog converter (HDAC) is driven from the assertion side of the horizontal memory, HMl HM9, and with no count accumulated, the output of the HDAC is 8 volts, increasing towards 0 volts with an increase in count. The maximum count that can be accumulated for a target located at the start of the horizontal sweep, at the extreme left edge of the monitor presentation, can be determined by the equation:

35.2 psec.7.0 11sec.

Maximum count= :409 clock pulses where:

35.2 ILSCC horizontal sweep time;

7.0 p.sec= HDPD on time; and

14.515 MHz= clock frequency. The analog output range of the HDAC with maximum count stored in the memory can be detemtined by the following equation:

where:

8 v15 1 l voltage weight per count; and 409 maximum number of pulse that can be accumulated by the counter. The output voltage of the horizontal digital-to-analog regulator (HDAR) ranges from 8 to -l .60 volts.

The output range of the horizontal joy stick, HJS, used for target acquisition, is the same as that of the horizontal digital-to-analog converter, HDAC.

The horizontal bias voltage, HBS, provides a positive bias input to the horizontal control amplifier, HCA, to obtain a bipolar output voltage. The HCA is operated non inverting with an output of :8 volts, which is used to position the video gate.

HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL DRIVE PULSES The camera control unit vertical and horizontal drive pulses are brought into the logic drawer of FIG. 1 and amplified and inverted in the vertical drive pulse inverter, VDPI, and horizontal drive pulse inverter, HDPI of FIG. 6. When received, the pulses are-negative going, from to 4 volts. At the outputs of the VDPI and HDPI, the pulses are positive going from 1 2 to 0 volts. Pulse width are 3l6.8 and 3.5 p. seconds, respectively. The HPDF output drives the vertical error counter, of FIG. 2 and the horizontal ramp generator, HRG of FIG. 7.

The VDPD output drives the vertical ramp generator, VRG of FIG. 7, and the counter reset drive amplifier, CRDA. The CRDA resets all counter flipflops when VDPD goes to logic I at the termination of VDPD delay time.

When a target is detected within the video gate, TFF goes to logic 0 and triggers the shift flip-flop, SFF, set. At the end of HDPD delay time, SFF is reset by the horizontal delay pulse driver HDPD, going to logic 0. The output of the shift flip-flop, SFF, drives the vertical and horizontal shift, VS and HS, driver amplifiers. The vertical and horizontal memories are updated when SFF goes to logic 0 when triggered reset by the horizontal drive pulse driver, HDPD. The memory freezememory active switch also furnishes inputs to VS and HS. In the memory freeze position, the shift pulse is inhibited.

VIDEO GATE FORMING AND POSITIONING The purpose of the video gate, which is rectangular in shape with the long dimension in the horizontal coordinate, FIGS. 7 and 8, is to exclude the sensing of any target not Inside the gate. The gate II adjustable in size from 2 to 15 percent of the useable vertical and horizontal scanning times by using a panel mounted adjust control, not shown. Inputs to the gate-forming networks are:

a. Vertical drive pulse delay, VDFD, to the vertical ramp generator VRG;

b. Vertical control amplifier, VCA, analog input to the vertical Schmitt trigger VST;

c. Horizontal inputs HDI D and HCA to the horizontal ramp generator, HRG, and the horizontal Schmitt trigger, HST;

d. Composite video signal from the TV camera applied to the video processor;

e. An adjustable DC voltage from the joy stick control unit used to set the threshold level of the video processor.

When VDPD goes positive, to logic 0, the output of thevertical ramp generator (VRG) drops to 8 volts and thereafter generates a positive-going ramp which rises toward +8 volts. The negative excursion of the vertical ramp generator (VRG) triggers the vertical Schmitt trigger, VST, to logic I. The input network to VST is a summing junction in which the ramp voltage is opposed by a voltage from the vertical control amplifier, VCA. When the two voltages are equal and of opposite polarity the vertical Schmitt trigger VST is turned off. Thus it can be seen that after the VST is triggered, it is held triggered by the vertical ramp. VST

turn-off can be established at any point on the ramp by varying the input vertical control amplifier VCA voltage over the range of 8 to +8 volts. This feature allows the video gate to be positioned at any point between the bottom and top of the monitor screen.

When VST (vertical Schmitt trigger) is triggered with the termination of VRG, a logic 1 is applied to the trigger inputs of two one-shot multivibrators, vertical gate delays 1 and 2, (VGDl and VGD2). At VST tumoif, both VGDl and VGD2 are triggered. VGDI and VGD2 outputs are applied to the vertical delay AND gate VDG. The ganged four potentiometer gate adjust control is used to adjust gate size. Two of the potentiometers control the on times of VGDl and VGD2 to control gate height; the other two potentiometers control the on times of HGDl and HGD2 to control gate width. The potentiometer values are selected to provide a proportional variation of gate height and width.

Horizontal gate forming logic and vertical gate forming logic are similar. The main difference is in timing; the period of the VST is 16.666 milliseconds whereas the period of the HST is 35.2 microseconds. The horizontal ramp generator receives HDFD and produces HRG. The horizontal Schmitt trigger receives HRG and HCA and generates the horizontal timing trigger which, in turn, is fed to horizontal gate delays 1 and 2 (HGDI and HGD2). The horizontal delay gate output is fed to the gate control logic and to the target enabling gate logic.

The logic described above determines the size of the gate. Additional logic is required to produce a rectangular area on the screen where video is not blanked and the target can be detected. This gate forming logic comprises:

a. Top and bottom flip-flop, TBCFF;

b. Top and bottom flip-flop control gate, TBFFCG;

c. Top and bottom gate, TBG;

e. Target gate control fllp-Ilop, TOCFF;

f. Target gate flip-flop enable gate, TGFFEG; and

g. Target gate enable flip-flop, TGEFF.

Gate forming logic proceeds as follows:

a. TGCFF, TBCFF and TGEFF are initially in the reset state;

b. TGEFF which was triggered reset by the logic from HDG2, is triggered set at the trailing edge of the vertical gate delay 1, VGDI, pulse, which provides enabling inputs to NAND gate 'IGFFEG and AND gate TBFFCG, both of which remain in the set state during the following steps.

c. TBCFF is toggled set through TBFFCG at the trailing edge of the first horizontal delay gate, I-IDG, pulse and is reset by the following HDG pulse;

d. During the time TBCFF is set, NAND gate 13 is enabled, allowing the second HDG pulse to pass. The second pulse to pass forms the top of the gate. TBCFF is reset at the trailing edge of the pulse that formed the top of the gate, triggering TBCFF set. TGCFF goes to logic 0, disabling AND gate TBFFCG, thereby inhibiting the input to TBCFF; and

e. TGCFF going true enables NAND gates TGFFEG and TFFG.

Under the conditions set forth above, video data can be sensed on each horizontal sweep for the duration of the video gate enabling pulse. True terms TGCFF and VDG enable NAND gate TFFG. When the horizontal delay gate produces an output pulse, the output of TFFG goes, to logic 0, enabling the target flip-flop (TFF) to set. The output of target flip-flop gate power driver amplifier (TFFGPA) is applied to the video modulator drive amplifier of FIG. 9.

At the end of the VGD2 pulse, the vertical delay gate (VDC) and the target flip-flop gate (TFFG) are disabled, the target gate control flip-flop (TGCFF) is reset, AND gate top and bottom flip-flop control gate (TBFFCG) is enabled and the first I-IDG pulse through TBFFCG causes TBCFF to set, enabling TBG. The second HDG pulse out of TBG forms the bottom of the video gate.

The trailing edte of HDG resets the top and bottom control flip-flop, TBCFF, sets the target gate control flip-flop, TGCFF, disables top and bottom flip-flop control gate, TBFFCG, and prevents top and bottom control flipflop, TBCFF, from toggling. When the TGCFF, VGD2 and TGEFF inputs to the target gate flip-flop enable gate, TGFFEG, are all at logic 1, the reset enable input of the target gate enable flip flop (T- GEFF) is enabled. When HDGD2 is set again, the target gate enable flip-flop, TGEFF, is toggled reset, completing the gate forming for one field. FIG. 8 shows the vertical delay gate VDG enabled for maximum gate size, percent of the useable screen height, or 33 horizontal lines.

During the time that l-IDG pulses are present at the output of the target flip-flop gate power amplifier, TFFGPA, any video target pulses present at the output of the video processor trigger TDMV and set TDMV. The trailing edge of the TDMV pulse, which is in coincidence with the real target on the next line, triggers the target flip-flop, TFF, set. The term TFF disables the target delay multivibrator (TDMV), preventing any additional triggering until the target flip-flop, TFF, is reset at the end of the field. The video output from the processing amplifier has a delay of approximately five basic clock pulses.

The video processing amplifier, VPA, processes all of the incoming video signals from the camera control unit of FIG. 1. The first stage is an operational amplifier connected as a differentiator with stop action to reduce high frequency noise inherent in difi'erentiators and to prevent instability. The second stage is a conventionally connected operational amplifier that can be operated inverting or non inverting. Selection is made by energizing a relay through pressing the contrast selector switch (not shown) located on the joy stick control unit. This arrangement permits the selection of either positive contrast, black on white, operating in verted, or negative contrast, white on black, operatinz non inverted. The second stage drives a threshold de\ tector that triggers on a positive pulse above a reference level set by the video potentiometer (not shown) located on the joy stick control unit. The threshold detector provides a constant output level and drives an inverting amplifier for an output compatible withthe logic. The output stage is held at a logic level of I by a transistor in series with the output stage when biased off. When terms BDG, HDG and TFF are at logic 1, the series transistor is biased on, providing a path to ground for the output stage. During this time, if the video threshold triggers, the output goes to a logic zero, setting TDMV. Only the video signal that appears inside the video gate will be passed by the processor.

Drive amplifiers TFPPA and TFPPA prevent loading of the target flip-flop, TFF, output by the lower speed logic. When the target fiipflop is set, WI going to logic zero:

a. Sets the horizontal control flip-flop, l-ICFF, which enables the horizontal counter;

b. Sets the target indicator flip-flop, TIFF; and

c. Disables vertical counter NAND gates VCGI and VCGZ thereby terminating the vertical count.

The true term of target flip-flop, TFF, is applied to the video modulator logic of FIG. 9 for insertion of a target pulse on the video signal and holds the target indicator flip-flop TIFF disabled. The target indicator flip-flop TIFF being set enables a solenoid driver (not shown) latching a relay and causing a light in the optical system to turn on, which informs the mount operator that a target is within the video gate and optical system data can be transferred to the tracking error detector. As long as there is a target present in each field, the target indicator flip-flop, TIFF, will remain set. With the loss of a target, the target flip-flop, TFF, will not set and the TIFF reset enable input is enabled by the target flip-flop, TFF, and will be reset by CRDA at the end of the field.

VIDEO MODULATOR The video modulator, FIGS. 9 and 10, processes the video gate and target flip-flop, TFF, outputs for visual presentation on the TV monitor during target acquisition. Inputs to the video modulator are:

a. Target flip-flop power amplifier, TFFPA;

b. Target flip-flop gate power amplifier, TFFGPA;

cause VTEGl to go to logic 1 and hold VTEG2 disabled. The output of VTEGI also drives video leading edge gates l and 2, VLEGI and VLEG2. High speed gate VLEG2 goes to logic and low speed gate VLEGl goes to logic 0 a finite time later, causing VLEG2 to return to logic 1. The output of VLEG2 is a narrow pulse, the duration of which is equal to the difference in turn on time between VLEGl and VLEG2. These pulses appear as a series of dots on the left side of the monitor gate display. When the target flip-flop gate power amplifier TFFGPA goes to logic 1 with the termination of the video gate pulse, high speed gate VTEG2 goes to logic 0. Low speed gate VLEGl goes to logic 0 a finite time later, disabling VLEG2 and causing VTEG2 to return to logic 1. The output of VTEG2 is a narrow pulse, the duration of which is equal to the difference in turn on time between VTEGl and VTEG2.

These pulses appear as a series of dots on the right side i of the monitor gate display.

Video target pulse gates 1, 2 and 3 and 4 VTPGl 4, operate in a similar manner. Additional gates may be used to obtain wider pulses. When the target flip-flop TFF goes top logic 0, VTPG4 goes to logic 0. A finite time later, VTPGl goes to logic 0, causing VTPG4 to return to logic 1 and produce an output pulse.

The outputs of VTEG2, VLEG2, VTPG4 and TBG drive expandable AND gate video modulator driver amplifier, VMDA. Whenever any one of its input functions goes to logic 0 the output of VMDA appears as a high white level on the TV camera video signal. The panel mounted square intensity potentiometer (not shown) and R9 limit the modulation voltage appearing on the video signal.

What is claimed is:

1. A video gate generator for providing a video gate which can be positioned for target acquisition and automatic tracking comprising:

horizontal gate forming means for generating a left and right boundary on a display device;

vertical gate forming means for generating an upper and lower boundary on a display device;

gate adjust means operatively connected to the horizontal and vertical gate forming means for adjusting gate width and height respectively;

the horizontal width and vertical height being less than the horizontal width and vertical height of the screen;

a target flip-flop operatively connected to said horizontal and vertical gate forming means adapted to be set and reset by the outputs from said horizontal and vertical gate forming means and producing output pulses in response to input pulses thereto indicative of a target presence within said video gate;

video processor means operatively receiving input video and connected to said horizontal and vertical gate forming means for processing the input video and outputting a video signal between said left and right boundaries and said upper and lower boundaries;

the operation of said video processor being such as to only output video signals appearing within said gate. I

2. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 1 and further including;

said vertical error detector being operative to count I the digital location of the target inside the video gate by counting the horizontal lines from the TV camera;

the output of said vertical Schmitt trigger being coupled to said vertical gate forming means.

3. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 2 and further including;

horizontal ramp generator means operatively receiving a horizontal drive pulse from the system TV camera;

horizontal error detector means;

horizontal Schmitt trigger means operatively receiving the output from said horizontal ramp generator and also receiving a horizontal control pulse from the horizontal error detector;

the horizontal error detector being operative to count to the start of a target detection and continue the count to the end of a TV line;

the output of said horizontal Schmitt trigger being coupled to said horizontal gate forming means.

4. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 3 and further including;

a TV monitor;

a video modulator for producing outputs corresponding to left and right lines and upper and lower lines operatively connected to said TV monitor;

said video modulator receiving output pulses from the horizontal and vertical gate forming means and outputs from said target flip-flop; said TV monitor screen remaining blank except for the area inside said gate.

5. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vertical error detector comprises;

a vertical counter gate receiving pulses from target flip-flop and another input when a target is de tected inside the generated video gate;

a vertical counter connected to said counter gate and receiving the output therefrom;

digital-to-analog converter means operatively coupled to the output of said counter for converting the digital signal therefrom to an analog signal;

positioning amplifier means operatively receiving a signal corresponding to the position of the video gate; and vertical control amplifier means operatively receiving the output of said digital-to-analog converter and Said positioning amplifier means and outputting a signal to said vertical Schmitt trigger. 6. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said horizontal error detector comprises;

horizontal control-means operatively receiving an inpur from said target flip-flop and another input when a target is detected within the video gate;

12 receiving an analog signal corresponding to horizontal gate position; and horizontal control amplifier means operatively receiving the output of said horizontal digital-toanalog converter and outputting an analog signal to the horizontal Schmitt trigger. 

1. A video gate generator for providing a video gate which can be positioned for target acquisition and automatic tracking comprising: horizontal gate forming means for generating a left and right boundary on a display device; vertical gate forming means for generating an upper and lower boundary on a display device; gate adjust means operatively connected to the horizontal and vertical gate forming means for adjusting gate width and height respectively; the horizontal width and vertical height being less than the horizontal width and vertical height of the screen; a target flip-flop operatively connected to said horizontal and vertical gate forming means adapted to be set and reset by the outputs from said horizontal and vertical gate forming means and producing output pulses in response to input pulses thereto indicative of a target presence within said video gate; video processor means operatively receiving input video and connected to said horizontal and vertical gate forming means for processing the input video and outputting a video signal between said left and right boundaries and said upper and lower boundaries; the operation of said video processor being such as to only output video signals appearing within said gate.
 2. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 1 and further including; vertical ramp generator means included in said vertical gate forming means; said vertical ramp generator receiving a vertical drive pulse from a TV camera included in the system; a vertical Schmitt trigger operatively connected to said vertical ramp generator and receiving the output from said vertical ramp generator; vertical error detector means; the vertical Schmitt trigger also receiving a vertical control pulse from the vertical error detector; said vertical error detector being operative to count the digital location of the target inside the video gate by counting the horizontal lines from the TV camera; the output of said vertical Schmitt trigger being coupled to said vertical gate forming means.
 3. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 2 and further including; horizontal ramp generator means operatively receiving a horizontal drive pulse from the system TV camera; horizontal error detector means; horizontal Schmitt trigger means operatively receiving the output from said horizontal ramp generator and also receiving a horizontal control pulse from the horizontal error detector; the horizontal error detector being operative to count to the start of a target detection and continue the count to the end of a TV line; the output of said horizontal Schmitt trigger being coupled to said horizontal gate forming means.
 4. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 3 and further including; a TV monitor; a video modulator for producing outputs corresponding to left and right lines and upper and lower lines operatively connected to said TV monitor; said video modulator receiving output pulses from the horizoNtal and vertical gate forming means and outputs from said target flip-flop; said TV monitor screen remaining blank except for the area inside said gate.
 5. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vertical error detector comprises; a vertical counter gate receiving pulses from target flip-flop and another input when a target is detected inside the generated video gate; a vertical counter connected to said counter gate and receiving the output therefrom; digital-to-analog converter means operatively coupled to the output of said counter for converting the digital signal therefrom to an analog signal; positioning amplifier means operatively receiving a signal corresponding to the position of the video gate; and vertical control amplifier means operatively receiving the output of said digital-to-analog converter and said positioning amplifier means and outputting a signal to said vertical Schmitt trigger.
 6. A video gate generator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said horizontal error detector comprises; horizontal control means operatively receiving an inpur from said target flip-flop and another input when a target is detected within the video gate; horizontal counter means operatively receiving the output of said horizontal control means; horizontal digital-to-analog converter means operatively receiving the output said counter means for converting the digital output of said counter to an analog signal; said horizontal digital-to-analog converter also receiving an analog signal corresponding to horizontal gate position; and horizontal control amplifier means operatively receiving the output of said horizontal digital-to-analog converter and outputting an analog signal to the horizontal Schmitt trigger. 